Sunderland: Who will finish as the Black Cats’ top Premier League goalscorer?

Sunderland striker Defoe has bagged 140 goals in the Premier League having starred for West Ham United, Tottenham and Portsmouth previously – Photo: Mark Leech

Currently sitting just one point above the Premier League’s drop zone, Sunderland’s top-flight status is at serious risk come May following back-to-back league draws against Crystal Palace and Southampton.

However; the winner of the Black Cats’ top goalscorer award for the 2015-16 season is hardly in doubt, in fact it is almost guaranteed to be awarded to former England international Jermain Defoe.

The 33-year-old; who has 55 international caps for the Three Lions, has almost scored a league goal for Sam Allardyce’s strugglers every other game, finding the back of the net 11 times in 25 appearances so far this term.

Defoe; who arrived at the Stadium of Light last January from Major League Soccer outfit Toronto FC, was pivotal in firing Sunderland towards survival last year during Dick Advocaat’s reign, and his form in the final nine fixtures of this campaign will be the most crucial factor in whether current boss Allardyce can save the Black Cats from dropping into the Championship for a second successive season.